A young man from Montgomery County 19 is sharing how an unexpected setback on the baseball field redirected his path into biotechnology manufacturing and an apprenticeship success story.
Malachi Reid, a 19-year-old Gaithersburg native and Wootton High School alumnus is sharing his experience transitioning from Division I baseball recruitment to a career in biotechnology manufacturing. Reid spent years preparing for a collegiate baseball career before an injury ended that opportunity before it began.
After the injury, Reid said he initially felt lost and assumed his only option was a traditional four-year college without a clear career direction. While he had an interest in science, he did not see an immediate path into the workforce without years of schooling. Through research and conversations with workforce development professionals, he discovered the apprenticeship model, which allowed him to earn a living wage, gain hands-on experience, and pursue a degree simultaneously.
Reid is currently a Manufacturing Sciences Apprentice at AstraZeneca while attending Montgomery College. In his role, he works directly with cell culture processes used to manufacture biologic medicines. His responsibilities include initiating cell cultures, scaling them from small laboratory vessels to large 2,000-liter bioreactors, and harvesting material for purification. He also completes process documentation, participates in quality control, and collaborates with cross-functional teams while learning the scientific reasoning behind each step of the manufacturing process.
He works weekday evenings, allowing him to attend classes during the day and on weekends. Reid said the earn-while-you-learn structure has enabled him to avoid student debt, gain financial independence at 19, and apply what he learns in the classroom directly to real-world manufacturing environments.
Reid said one of the biggest surprises in biotech has been the collaborative nature of the industry. Rather than working in isolation, manufacturing relies on teamwork among operators, scientists, engineers, and quality professionals. He also noted that apprentices are entrusted with meaningful responsibilities and play an active role in producing life-saving medicines.
Reid believes that apprenticeships are not a fallback option, but a deliberate and effective educational pathway. He thinks they are often overlooked due to long-standing cultural bias favoring traditional four-year colleges, despite offering strong career outcomes, reduced student debt, and direct workforce alignment.
Reid credits mentors and support systems for helping him navigate the transition, including guidance from his manager at AstraZeneca, support from professors at Montgomery College, encouragement from his family, and resources provided through the Presidential Scholars Program.
For Montgomery County students uncertain about their next steps, Reid encourages exploring all available options, including apprenticeships, community college programs, and workforce training opportunities. He stresses that success does not follow a single blueprint and that finding the right fit is more important than following a prescribed path.
Looking ahead, Reid hopes to pursue a master’s degree and continue advancing in biotechnology, with a long-term goal of mentoring future apprentices and contributing to process development and research. Reid along with the program cohort will have the opportunity to participate in the U.S. Department of Labor’s National Apprenticeship Week activities this April. He said the experience has reshaped his definition of success, focusing less on accolades and more on growth, impact, and helping others.
